Container units and collapsible holders for containers



March 1956 T. VANDER LUGT, JR 2, 38,

CONTAINER UNITS AND COLLAPSIBLE HOLDERS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

March 20, 1956 T, VANDER LUGT, JR 7 2,738,871

CONTAINER UNITS AND COLLAPSIBLE HOLDERS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 15 1951 \l AW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

n the blank and merge into each other.

United States Patent CONTAINER UNITS AND COLLAPSIBLE HOLDERS FOR CONTAINERS Thomas Vander Lugt, Jr., Kalamazoo, Mich., assigncr to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, l't/Zich.

Application August 15, 1951, Serial No. 241,905 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to improvements in container units and collapsible holders for containers.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a collapsible unit container or holder for containers such as cans, which is adapted to receive a plurality of containers and retain them as a unit, and to display certain portions of the containers.

Second, to provide a collapsible carton formed of an integral blank which may be formed with a minimum of stock in proportion to the size of the containers to be packaged therein, and which may be readily set up to receive the containers and closed after the containers are inserted.

Third, to provide a carton of this character which is very attractive in appearance when the packaged containers are inserted therein, and which very effectively supports and retains packaged material.

Fourth, to provide a container unit or package in which the containers are securely supported and at the same time substantial portions thereof exposed to view.

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claim.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package or unit and carton embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary top view partially in horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on a line corresponding to 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank in extended form.

Fig. 5 is a side perspective view of the collapsed carton with portions broken away to show structural details.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view with the carton in erected partially extended position to receive the contents to be packaged.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the carton is formed of an integral blank cut and scored to provide side wall portions 1 and 2, and end wall portions 3 and 4. These wall portions are aligned in The side wall portion 2 is provided with a sealing flap 5 which is adhesively secured to the end wall portion 3 as indicated by the adhesive 6 Fig. 5. The end wall portions have central vertical folding scores 7. The embodiment illustrated has centrally disposed elongated window openings 8. The purpose of these openings is to display the packaged material as is best shown in Fig. l, the packaged material illustrated being cans 9. The vertical width of the end wall portions is somewhat less than that of the side wall portions so that the top and bottom edges of the end wall portions are disposed within the flanges 10 of the cans which are commonly present in tin containers.

The side wall portions 1 and 2 are provided with bottom members 11 and 12 respectively which are hingedly secured at 13 to the bottom edges of the side wall members. The bottom member 11 has a sealing flap 14 hingedly secured thereto at 15. The sealing flap is adhesively secured to the bottom member 12 walls and the end walls being 2,738,871 Patented Mar. 20, 1956 as indicated at 16. The side wall members 1 and 2 are provided with top or closure members 17 and 18 respectively, hingedly secured thereto at 19. The top member 18 is provided with a generally U-shaped slit 20, while the top member 17 is provided with a dovetail tongue 21 engageable with the slit. The tongue desirably has a central slit 22 extending from its end into the top member to facilitate the engagement of the tongue with the slit 20 when the carton is filled. The side walls have central angled slits 24 extending from their hinged connections to the top and bottom members. These slits provide openings 25 adapted to receive portions 10 of the flanges of the central can or container 9, thus serving to hold the center can; against shifting or chucking movement, thereby relieving the end portions of some of the stress that they might otherwise be subjected to.

The carton of my invention is especially designed for holding cans and provides a unitary package for handling, and one which at the same time discloses or displays substantial portions of the cans for display purposes. The carton is designed so that it may be collapsed for shipment and storage as shown in Fig. 5 and is quickly erected to receive the contents. The top or closure members may be quickly interengaged, thereby completing the package or unit.

' l have illustrated and described my invention as I have emobdied the same in a carton to receive round cans or containers. It may, however, be used for square or other shaped objects. I have not illustrated such adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A unitary package comprising, a plurality of cans having radially projecting top and bottom flanges, and a carton therefor comprising opposed side walls, opposed end walls, a bottom wall connected to the lower edges of the side walls, and a top closure wall connected to the upper edges of side walls, the end walls being of dimensions between the side walls greater than that of the bottom wall and the top wall between the side unattached to the end edges of the bottom wall and top closure wall whereby the end walls are adapted to flex outwardly from the end edges of the bottom wall and top closure wall to conform to the shape of the cans disposed in the carton, the vertical dimensions of the end walls being less than but approximating that of the side walls, the end walls being disposed between the top and bottom flanges of the cans and in supporting engagement therewith on the inner sides thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,383,148 Pinkerton June 28, 1921 1,837,602 Walter Dec. 22, 1931 2,134,627 Turner Oct. 25, 1938 2,181,329 Hewitt Nov. 28, 1939 2,268,209 Ford et al Dec. 30, 1941 2,300,492 Fischer Nov. 3, 1942 2,331,038 Meller Oct. 5, 1943 2,337,198 Holy Dec. 21, 1943 2,433,676 Ringler Dec. 30, 1947 2,537,452 Forrer Jan. 9, 1951 2,556,778 Ringler June 12, 1951 2,559,948 Currie July 10, 1951 2,564,449 Ringler Aug. 14, 1951 2,578,174 Crane Dec. 11, 1951 2,603,923 Chidsey July 22, 1952 

